Roosters and Magpies swoop in early matches
THE Cobar Roosters also created history when their Youth League side downed Coonamble Bears 30-28 to win the club’s initial Castlereagh League title.
The bantam Roosters, who only entered the League last year, had to battle hard before raising the Premiers’ Shield.
Scores were locked 12-all at half time, but the Chooks flew after the break to open up a two converted try lead.
The Bears hit back after an incredible 90 metre bust and run by Dewayne Hammond and followed up with another a few minutes later. Just a missed goal separated the young stars before Cobar hooker Hamish Mcleod crossed for his second try.
The Bears battled bravely in the dying minutes to claw one back, but the full-time hooter beat them.
Cobar’s lock Johnny Best was selected as the player of the grand final, whilst Coonamble’s five-eighth, Liam Fernando, was named Castlereagh League Youth League Player of the Year.
Meanwhile the Baradine Magpies secured back to back league tag premierships when they saw off the challenge from the Coonabarabran Unicorns. In a highly entertaining decider, the Magpie’s fullback Maria Nagy showed why she is the Castlereagh League Tag player of the Year, scoring two tries and converting one to clinch a 14-4 win.
“She is an outstanding player and showed all her skills today. She is fast and her exceptional double-kick chase was a highlight for the big crowd, who witnessed Maria in action for the first time,” Castlereagh League President “Bomber” Thrift told the vocal crowd during post-match presentations.
The Unicorns hard working second rower P.J. Stanton was named as the Castlereagh League player of the year whilst Gilgandra’s Kieren Hazelton was a standout in the grand final and was judged as the player of the grand final.
Christie and Hood Castlereagh League Grand Finals Youth League
Cobar Roosters 30 (Hamish Mcleod 2, Johnny Best 2, Tyson Brilley tries, Lachlan Ford 3, Braith Good 2 goals) d Coonamble Bears 26 (Dwayne Hammond 2, Earl Greenaway, Liam Fernando, Koby Thurston tries, Fernando 3 goals)
League Tag
Baradine Magpies 14 (Maria Nagy 2, Holly Lewis tries, Nagy goal) d Coonabarabran Unicorns 6 (Hayley Walton try, Teaghan Barron goal)
Maria Nagy (right), player of the match, Castlereagh league Tag Player of the Year.
